Selling Hope: State Lotteries in America (National Bureau of Economic Research Bill) [Paperback]

Charles Clotfelter (Author), Philip Cook (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0674800982 | ISBN-13: 978-0674800984 | Publication Date: October 1, 1991

With its huge jackpots and heartwarming rags-to-riches stories, the lottery has become the hope and dream of millions of Americans--and the fastest-growing source of state revenue. Despite its popularity, however, there remains much controversy over whether this is an appropriate business for state government and, if so, how the business should be conducted.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Although Selling Hope is a serious work of economic research, the authors bring a lively curiosity and an engaging style of writing to their work...I found Selling Hope to be enlightening, even entertaining at times, and full of good reason for outrage over the lottery.
--Jonathan Kirsch (Los Angeles Times )

This book had me grinding my teeth, muttering under my breath, underlining like crazy, and littering the margins with exclamation points...Lottery agencies are looking for ever more attractive forms of gambling--like tapping into professional sports. It's not too late to head off such questionable activity...Selling Hope should be required reading for anybody in a position to decide such issues.
--Brad Knickerbocker (Christian Science Monitor )

Immensely valuable...Scholars and public policy officials and analysts should quickly obtain this book. Even religious leaders should read it. Undoubtedly this landmark work will define the debate in the 1990s over establishing and maintaining lotteries in the United States.
--David E. R. Gay (Social Science Quarterly )

Whatever the criteria, this is a superb book...it has earned the right to be the basis from which public policy debates on the controversial issues can and should take place.
--A. R. Sanderson (Choice )

About the Author

Charles Clofelter is Professor of Public Policy Studies and Economics at Duke University. He is also Research Associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Philip Cook is Professor of Public Policy Studies and Economics at Duke University.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Harvard University Press (October 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0674800982
• ISBN-13: 978-0674800984
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,011,014 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Charles Clotfelter is the Z. Smith Reynolds Professor of Public Policy and Professor of Economics and Law at Duke University. His book, "Big-Time Sports in American Universities," was published in May 2011 by Cambridge University Press. He is also the author or coauthor of five previous books on topics including university economics, school desegregation, and state lotteries. At Duke he has served as vice chancellor and vice provost. He likes playing squash and golf, and he enjoys watching college sports.